Electric-circuit-controlling device



w. L. KUBACH L E. 1. EDWARDS.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, T915.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

mEi..

WTNE'SSES [N VEN Tazas L M'LLIAM L. KUBADH, QZ E Ev/:N EDWARDS,

y a 9 'i W@ Tanza TTUHNEI.

mE Nunn/x l rsh: co.. rnamufna.. vusnlncmw. u, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KBACH AND EVAN J. EDWARDS, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUITCONTROLLING DEVICE.

` t Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed February 23, 1915. Serial No. 9,812.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known thatv we,'fV1LLiAM L. KU- BACH and EVAN J EDWARDS, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Chio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ,in Electric Circuit Controlling Y Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for use in electric lighting circuits for the purpose of preventing the consumer from using more than a fixed amount ofcurrent. Devices of this character are especially adapted for use where the lighting consumer pays a flat rate. It is desirable that when the consumer exceeds a specified amount of l current the lamps in the circuit be caused to iiicker, thus producing a 'disagreeable condition which can only be removed by cutting out the lamp or other device which takes the eXtra current.

Our invention comprises a device which is adapted to be inserted in the supply circuit and which comprisesan electro-magnet or solenoid, which, by lits action upon a Suitable armature, causes contacts to be separated, thus breaking the circuit, and after a suitable interval causes the Said contacts to rengage, thus completingthe circuit. This operation is repeated comparatively rapidly, but the device is so constituted that the circuit is interrupted for an appreciable interval. This operation is to be distinguished from a rapid vibration which would not cause an appreciable flicker and also from a long break which would leave the room in darkness for a considerable time.

'One of the advantages of our invention over devices which have been heretofore proposed is that it includes a minimum number of contacts, thus securing a more certain make and break and lessening the chances of faulty operating arising from wear and accumulations between the contacts. Our device also includes checking means which come into operation both on the break and make andfthus reduce pounding in the device. Another advantage arises from the fact that the solenoid comprised by our device has a continuous winding, thus facilitating trouble finding aswell coil.

as reducing the cost of manufacture over that required for a device comprising a split It is also'to be noted that in our construction the weight of the movable Contact and attached parts is such that the contact pressure is comparatively great, thus insuring a good Contact and tending to remove any possible corrosion. Also the chance of the movable parts sticking is reduced by this construction. These and other features and advantages of our invention will appear from the accompanying drawing and from the description thereof which follows.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of a device embodying our invention.

The device illustrated is of the same general character as that covered by Doane application Serial N o. 834,259, filed April 24, 1914, and assigned to the same assignee as is the present invention. Like the device described in the said application, the pres ent device comprises a bulb or other casing 10 provided with a base 11, which may be of the Edison type. The device is adapted to be inserted in an ordinary incandescent lamp socket and tol be placed in series with the lamps or other. load.y The leads 12, 13 are sealed in as in the case of Iincandescent lamps. The device shown is adapted to be disposed vertically. It'inclu'des the metal plate 14, which rests at the bottom of the bulb, and carries the contact 15, which may be of silver and which may be removably held in the plate 14, as shown in 1G. The plate14 is attached by metal straps 17 to the metal plate 18, which supports an insulating washer 19, upon which rests the solenoid 20. The straps 17 may extend through the plate 18 and serve to support the metal plate 21 upon the top of the solenoid, which is separated byy the insulatingk washer 22 from the said solenoid. vA terminal post 23 is supported on vand is in electrical contact with the plate 21 and is, therefore, electrically connectedl to the contact 15. The terminal post 23 is connected to the lead 13. The other lead 12 is connected to a terminal post 24, which is supported by the insulating washer 22 and is electrically connected with the winding of the Solenoid Q0. The solenoid carries at its center and suitably insulated therefrom, a casing or sleeve rl`his extends above the solenoid and carries at its upper end in asuitable channel the trough shaped insulator 26, which engages the end of glass tube 2G and serves to hold the parts of the device in alincment therewith and to support and guide the flexible conductors 27, 28, which connect the leading-in wires with the posts and 2l respectively. Slidable within and closely fitting with the sleeve 25 is the hollow, and preferably tubular, member 29, which carries at its lower end the contact rl`he said contact is electrically conJ nected with the winding of solenoid 2O by the flexible conductors 8l, which are wound in reverse directions around the outside of the tube 29. This reverse winding is for the purpose of preventing the rotation of the tube :'29 to any appreciable extent, as such rotation might cause the contact 30 to lit poorly with the contact l5. The tubular member 29 is closed at the top and contains the loosely supported iron core or armature 33, which is drawn upwardly by the solenoid 2O upon the passage of an abnormal current through the latter. 'lhe top portion of the sleeve is provided with the valve chamber 3l having a valve 35 therein which controls the communication therewith and the sleeve 29. A restricted outlet 3G is provided from said valve chamber and extends laterally through the cap 37 for the sleeve 25.

ln operation the above described device is included in series with an electric circuit. 'llhe device is so calibrated that the contacts l5 and 150 remain in engagement during the normal oilieration of the circuit. Upon an increase in the load beyond that for which the instrument is calibrated and that for which the consumer' has contracted, the armature or core is drawn up by the solenoid and strikes the top 32 of the tube il), thus causing the contact to be instantly separated from the contact l5. rihe blow which is struck the end causes the tube 2f) to be raised in the sleeve 25. @n account of the close lit of the tube 29 with the sleeve Q5, the tube 29 will be cushioned ly the air which will accumulate in the upper part of sleeve 25, a4 limited amount of which can get out through the passage 36 by reason of the valve 35. Upon the descent of the contact 30 and attached parts, the travel thereof will be retarded on account of the close lit of the aforesaid parts and and on account of the seating of the valve This will ca use an appreciable time interval to elapse betere the reengagemeut of the contacts and cause a decided flicker in, the circuit. ln order to prevent corrosion of the metal parts, and also to insure the proper action of the valve, it is preferred to lill the bulb with nitrogen or other inert gas.

Various clniiiges and n'ioi'lilieations of the above described structure will readily occur to those skilled in the art and are to be considered as coming within the scope of our invention.

llihat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. ln a circuit controlling device, a substantially vertically disposed solenoid, a stationary contact beneath said solenoid, a. hollow member slidably mounted in said solenoid and having at its lower end a contact normally held by gravity in enga gement with said stationary contact, and a magnetic core within said member and adapted upon the passage of an abnormal current through said solenoid to strike said member and disengage said contacts.

ln a circuit controlling device, a solenoid adapted to be substantiallyv vertically disposed, a hollow member slidably supported in said solenoid and a core loosely supiliorted upon the bott-om olil said member, the top of said member being so disposed as to be struck by said core upon the passage of an abnormal current through said solenoid, a stationary contact and a movable contact, and means whereby the latter is caused to follow the movement of the aforesaid hollow member.

3. ln a circuit controlling device, a substantially vertically disposed solenoid, a tubular member slidably mounted in said solenoid, a core normally rest-ing upon the bottom of said member and adapted to Istrike the top thereof upon the passage of an abnormal current through said solenoid, thereby moving the, member upwardly in said solenoid, a contact carried by said tubular member, and a stationary contactnormally supporting said tubular member and the elements carried thereby.

il. ln a circuit contri'illing device, a substantially vertically disposed solenoid, a stationary contact, a movable Contact biased to engage said stationary contact, a hollow member slidably mounted in said solenoid and operatively related to said movable contact, and a magnetic core normally resting on the bottom of said member and adapted to strike the top thereof upon the passage of an abnormal current through the solenoid whereby said contact-s are disengaged.

5. ln a circuit controlling` device a. substantially vertically disposed solenoid, a stationary contact beneath said solenoid, a hollow member slidably mounted in said solenoid and having at its lower end ay contact normally resting on said stationary contact, means whereby said contacts when separated are always biased to rengage, and

a magnetic core loosely mounted in said our hands this nineteenth day of February, member and normally resting on the bottom 1915.

thereof and adapted to strike the member VILLIAM L KUBACH and thereby move the member upwardly EVAN J EDiVARDS upon the passage of an abnormal current through said solenoid thereby effecting the lVitnesses:

disengagement ol said contacts. f W. M. SKIFF,

In witness whereof, We have hereunto Set G. S. MERRILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

